Great Plains News Digest
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KANSAS
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US–Foster Teen Custody Death
Jury awards $8.3 million to foster teen’s family after his death at juvenile intake center
SUMMARY: A jury has awarded $8.3 million to the family of a Kansas foster teen who died in 2021 after being held facedown for 39 minutes in a juvenile intake center as he underwent a mental health crisis. Jurors decided Wednesday after a trial in federal court in Wichita that five juvenile officers either used excessive force on Cedric “C.J.” Lofton or failed to intervene. An attorney for Lofton’s estate said Thursday that he was pleased that jurors rejected arguments that the death stemmed from “excited delirium,” a controversial diagnosis discredited by major medical associations. Critics say it was often used to justify excessive force by police.
WORDS: 444 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 2:02 p.m. CST
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MINNESOTA
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US–Immigration-Enforcement-Minnesota
Minneapolis man is charged with threatening and cyberstalking ICE officers
SUMMARY: Federal prosecutors have arrested and charged a Minneapolis man, accusing him of doxing and threatening to kill immigration officers. Authorities say Kyle Wagner threatened Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers involved in the crackdown in Minnesota. Attorney General Pamela Bondi accuses Wagner of doxing and calling for violence against ICE officers, as well as claiming an affiliation with anti-fascist militants. Wagner was charged by complaint on Tuesday. The complaint, which was unsealed Thursday, accuses Wagner of posting threats on social media, including a video targeting ICE officers. He is also accused of doxing a pro-ICE individual in Michigan, by sharing personal information online.
WORDS: 579 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 1:21 p.m. CST
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US-MED–Measles-Vaccine Misinformation
Fear in Minnesota’s Somali community deepens, hampering progress on measles vaccination
SUMMARY: Public health officials say a measles crisis has long been brewing in Minnesota. For years, the state’s large Somali community has been fertile ground for the myth that the measles vaccine causes autism. Data show autism rates in Somali 4-year-olds are high. Researchers don’t know why. Many here blame the measles, mumps and rubella shot. It’s one injection proven to safely protect against the three viruses. The first dose is recommended at 12 to 15 months old. Many Somali parents wait until age 5, though there’s no scientific evidence backing that approach. Before federal immigration authorities launched a crackdown in Minneapolis, immunization advocates noted small victories. But they say now, with many families afraid, progress has been lost.
WORDS: 1341 – MOVED: 02/06/2026 3:57 a.m. CST
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US–Cities-Federal Government
Trump’s aggressive tactics force a reckoning between local leaders and Washington
SUMMARY: Local leaders across the U.S. describe an increasingly hostile relationship with Washington, driven by President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Federal officers remain in Minneapolis despite local opposition, highlighting the growing divide. Local leaders feel pressured by federal priorities, affecting trust and stability. The tensions have upended longtime Republican arguments that the federal government should leave local governance to the states under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Now a Republican president is articulating a muscular federal approach over the protest of Democrats. Trump has expressed frustration at reflexive resistance from Democratic mayors and governors.
WORDS: 1333 – MOVED: 02/06/2026 6:18 a.m. CST
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US–UnitedHealthcare-CEO Killed
Luigi Mangione speaks out in protest as judge sets state murder trial for June 8
SUMMARY: Luigi Mangione spoke out in court against the prospect of back-to-back trials in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The 27-year-old Mangione on Friday told the judge presiding of the New York case against him: “It’s the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition.” He made the remarks as court officers were escorting him out of the courtroom after the judge scheduled his state murder trial for June 8, three months before jury selection in his federal case.
WORDS: 655 – MOVED: 02/06/2026 11:04 a.m. CST
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US–House-Oversight-Omar
In unusual move, Republican chairman scrutinizes companies tied to husband of Rep. Ilhan Omar
SUMMARY: The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee is requesting records related to firms partially owned by the husband of Rep. Ilhan Omar. It’s an extraordinary step of scrutinizing the spouse of a sitting House member. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky sent a letter to Timothy Mynett, a former Democratic political consultant who is married to Omar. Comer is requesting records related to a pair of companies that had a substantial jump in value between 2023 and 2024. Comer’s request marked a highly unusual move by the chair of a committee with a history of taking on politically-charged investigations, but almost always focused on government officials outside of Congress.
WORDS: 451 – MOVED: 02/06/2026 11:44 a.m. CST
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US–Immigration Enforcement-Schools
In Minnesota, sending a child to school is an act of faith for immigrant families
SUMMARY: For many immigrant families in Minnesota, sending a child to school each day requires faith that one of the thousands of federal immigration officers deployed around the state won’t detain them. Thousands of children are staying home, often for lack of door-to-door transportation — or simply trust that they will make it to school. For some families, the fear has turned into reality. Many parents and at least some children have been detained. Schools, parents and community groups have mobilized to help students get to class so they can learn, socialize and have consistent access to two meals.
WORDS: 1305 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 11:01 p.m. CST
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MISSOURI
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US–Census-Citizenship Question
Census Bureau plans to use survey with a citizenship question in its test for 2030, alarming experts
SUMMARY: The U.S. Census Bureau plans to use a survey form with a citizenship question for its 2030 census practice test. The test being conducted in Huntsville, Alabama, and Spartanburg, South Carolina, uses questions from the American Community Survey, not recent census forms. The ACS includes a citizenship question while the census form does not. This decision follows the Trump administration’s failed attempt to add such a question to the 2020 census. Experts express concern about using ACS questions, saying they won’t provide a valid test for 2030 census operations.
WORDS: 641 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 5:15 p.m. CST
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SOUTH DAKOTA
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US–Obit-Gabor Boritt
Civil War scholar and retired Gettysburg College professor Gabor Boritt dies at 86
SUMMARY: Civil War scholar Gabor S. Boritt has died at age 86. His family says he died Monday in Pennsylvania. Boritt was a Hungarian immigrant to the United States who became a history professor at Gettysburg College and founded the Civil War Institute. He also helped establish the $50,000 Lincoln Prize for historical scholarship. Born in Budapest in 1940, he survived World War II and later joined the Hungarian Revolution. After moving to the U.S., he earned a history doctorate and taught at several universities. Boritt wrote extensively on President Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, earning a National Humanities Medal in 2008.
WORDS: 237 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 4:44 p.m. CST
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SPORTS
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IOWA
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BKW–T25-Minnesota-Iowa
Minnesota women beat No. 10 Iowa for 5th straight victory
SUMMARY: Grace Grocholski scored 21 points, Mara Braun added 16 and Minnesota beat No. 10 Iowa 91-85 on Thursday night for its fifth straight victory. The Gophers (17-6, 8-4 Big Ten) have the program’s longest winning streak in Big Ten play since the 2018-19 season. The Hawkeyes (18-5, 9-3) lost their third consecutive game since they lost starting guard Taylor McCabe, the team’s leading 3-point shooter, to a season-ending knee injury. Minnesota led for almost all of the final three quarters, shooting 51.6% for the game while going 10 of 14 in 3-pointers. The Gophers’ biggest lead was 77-57 with 7:51 to play. It was Minnesota’s first road win over a top-10 team since 2005. Ava Heiden led Iowa with 24 points.
WORDS: 374 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 8:13 p.m. CST
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MINNESOTA
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BKC–Minnesota-Medved
Gophers savor breakthrough game with upset of Spartans, as coach Niko Medved’s impact begins to show
SUMMARY: The Minnesota Gophers finally got to savor some progress under coach Niko Medved with an upset of 10th-ranked Michigan State. This was their third win over a ranked team at the time of the game this season. All of them prompted court swarms by the crowd at Williams Arena. The victory over the Spartans ended a seven-game losing streak. They were tied or leading in the final minute of regulation in five of those games. Michigan State was the first top-10 team Minnesota has beaten in five years. The Gophers are 11-12 overall and 4-8 in Big Ten play.
WORDS: 753 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 1:23 p.m. CST
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BKW–T25-Minnesota-Iowa
Minnesota women beat No. 10 Iowa for 5th straight victory
SUMMARY: Grace Grocholski scored 21 points, Mara Braun added 16 and Minnesota beat No. 10 Iowa 91-85 on Thursday night for its fifth straight victory. The Gophers (17-6, 8-4 Big Ten) have the program’s longest winning streak in Big Ten play since the 2018-19 season. The Hawkeyes (18-5, 9-3) lost their third consecutive game since they lost starting guard Taylor McCabe, the team’s leading 3-point shooter, to a season-ending knee injury. Minnesota led for almost all of the final three quarters, shooting 51.6% for the game while going 10 of 14 in 3-pointers. The Gophers’ biggest lead was 77-57 with 7:51 to play. It was Minnesota’s first road win over a top-10 team since 2005. Ava Heiden led Iowa with 24 points.
WORDS: 374 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 8:13 p.m. CST
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BKN–NBA Trade Deadline
Antetokounmpo remains with Bucks as an extremely hectic NBA trade deadline passes
SUMMARY: Giannis Antetokounmpo remains with the Milwaukee Bucks as the NBA trade deadline passes. Despite rumors, the Bucks kept the two-time MVP. The deadline saw 28 trades in a week, a 20-year record, with 18 finalized on Thursday. Antetokounmpo, who hasn’t played since January due to injury, has expressed his commitment to Milwaukee but wants a competitive team. The Bucks are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference. Other notable trades included Indiana acquiring Ivica Zubac and Minnesota getting Ayo Dosunmu. James Harden and Anthony Davis were among big names traded earlier in the week.
WORDS: 1215 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 8:58 a.m. CST
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BKN–Bulls-Timberwolves Trade
Timberwolves acquire Ayo Dosunmu for scoring depth in trade-deadline deal with Bulls
SUMMARY: The Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired guard Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls. The move adds a proven scorer to bolster their depth for the stretch run in the stacked Western Conference playoffs race. Minnesota agreed to send 2024 first-round draft pick Rob Dillingham, deep reserve Leonard Miller and four second-round draft picks to Chicago for Dosunmu and forward Julian Phillips. The rebuilding Bulls made seven trades this week. Dosunmu was a second-round pick by his hometown Bulls in the 2021 draft. He is averaging a career-high 15 points per game and shooting a career-best 45.1% from 3-point range this season.
WORDS: 473 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 10:39 a.m. CST
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OLY–HKO-Hockeytown Heritage
US Olympic hockey history has been given an outsized boost from a tiny, proud Minnesota town
SUMMARY: The small town of Warroad, Minnesota, has had an outsized impact on the history of hockey in the U.S. The inclusion of Brock Nelson on the men’s Olympic team this year makes eight players from Warroad to go to the Winter Games. Both of the previous men’s teams to win gold medals had Warroad natives on the roster. Dave Christian was part of the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980. His father and uncle won in 1960. Another product of the hockey factory near the Canadian border is three-time Olympian Gigi Marvin. She won gold with the women’s team in 2018.
WORDS: 1009 – MOVED: 02/06/2026 5:47 a.m. CST
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SOC–MLS-Minnesota-Rodriguez
Minnesota United brings Colombian star James Rodríguez to the MLS on a short-term contract
SUMMARY: Minnesota United has signed midfielder James Rodríguez to a short-term contract that gives the Major League Soccer club’s highest-profile player to date in an arrangement that gives the Colombia veteran a team to ramp up with in preparation for the World Cup this summer. Rodríguez will occupy an international roster spot on a guaranteed contract through June when the league pauses for the World Cup. Minnesota has a club option through the remainder of the MLS season until December. The 34-year-old Rodríguez played most recently with Club León in Mexico. The Loons open their season on Feb. 21 at Austin.
WORDS: 297 – MOVED: 02/06/2026 10:58 a.m. CST
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MISSOURI
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SOC–MLS-Sporting KC-Loyo Reynaga
Sporting Kansas City signs 15-year-old Zamir Loyo Reynaga, hoping he’ll debut in the MLS in 2027
SUMMARY: Sporting Kansas City has signed 15-year-old midfielder Zamir Loyo Reynaga, putting him on a trajectory for a 2027 MLS debut. The MLS Next Pro deal will send Loyo Reynaga to Sporting KC II this season with the likelihood he joins the first team next year. The contract runs through the 2030-31 season and has a club option for 2031-32. Loyo Reynaga became the youngest player in franchise history to debut with SKC II on Sept. 28, 2025, at 14 years, 251 days old and he spent part of the 2026 preseason with Sporting KC’s first team. He has represented both the United States and Mexico in youth competition.
WORDS: 341 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 1:16 p.m. CST
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FBC–SEC Revenue Distribution
The SEC is distributing more than $1B to its schools for the 2024-25 fiscal year
SUMMARY: The Southeastern Conference is distributing more than $1 billion to its 16 universities for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which ended last August. The total distribution of $1.03 billion jumped more than $200 million from the previous year. The current total includes $37.4 million retained by universities that participated in the College Football Playoff and bowl games. The amount distributed from the conference office, including bowl revenue retained by participants, averaged $72.4 million for schools with full year financial participation. Oklahoma and Texas, which joined the conference in July 2024, received distributions of $2.6 million and $12.1 million, respectively.
WORDS: 209 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 2:29 p.m. CST
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NEBRASKA
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BKC–Omaha-North Dakota
North Dakota wins 76-73 over Omaha
SUMMARY: Led by Greyson Uelmen’s 21 points, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks defeated the Omaha Mavericks 76-73 on Thursday. The Fighting Hawks are now 14-12 on the season, while the Mavericks dropped to 12-13.
WORDS: 115 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 10:14 p.m. CST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/NorthDakotawinsoverOmaha/1551481e9e7a43f9a3417d36abdeb9b4/text
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NORTH DAKOTA
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BKC–Omaha-North Dakota
North Dakota wins 76-73 over Omaha
SUMMARY: Led by Greyson Uelmen’s 21 points, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks defeated the Omaha Mavericks 76-73 on Thursday. The Fighting Hawks are now 14-12 on the season, while the Mavericks dropped to 12-13.
WORDS: 115 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 10:14 p.m. CST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/NorthDakotawinsoverOmaha/1551481e9e7a43f9a3417d36abdeb9b4/text
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OKLAHOMA
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FBC–SEC Revenue Distribution
The SEC is distributing more than $1B to its schools for the 2024-25 fiscal year
SUMMARY: The Southeastern Conference is distributing more than $1 billion to its 16 universities for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which ended last August. The total distribution of $1.03 billion jumped more than $200 million from the previous year. The current total includes $37.4 million retained by universities that participated in the College Football Playoff and bowl games. The amount distributed from the conference office, including bowl revenue retained by participants, averaged $72.4 million for schools with full year financial participation. Oklahoma and Texas, which joined the conference in July 2024, received distributions of $2.6 million and $12.1 million, respectively.
WORDS: 209 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 2:29 p.m. CST
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BKC–T25-Oklahoma St-Derogatory Chants
BYU athletic director confident Big 12 schools serious about stopping fan chants targeting Mormons
SUMMARY: A BYU sports team was the target of a derogatory chant in an opponent’s venue for at least the fourth time in a year, and the Big 12 again announced the conference would look into the matter and the home team offered an apology. BYU athletic director Brian Santiago wants to break the cycle. Kevin Young, coach of the 16th-ranked Cougars men’s basketball team, said after a 99-92 loss at Oklahoma State on Wednesday night that he heard “F— The Mormons” chants coming out of the student section.
WORDS: 840 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 10:22 a.m. CST
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BKN–NBA Trade Deadline
Antetokounmpo remains with Bucks as an extremely hectic NBA trade deadline passes
SUMMARY: Giannis Antetokounmpo remains with the Milwaukee Bucks as the NBA trade deadline passes. Despite rumors, the Bucks kept the two-time MVP. The deadline saw 28 trades in a week, a 20-year record, with 18 finalized on Thursday. Antetokounmpo, who hasn’t played since January due to injury, has expressed his commitment to Milwaukee but wants a competitive team. The Bucks are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference. Other notable trades included Indiana acquiring Ivica Zubac and Minnesota getting Ayo Dosunmu. James Harden and Anthony Davis were among big names traded earlier in the week.
WORDS: 1215 – MOVED: 02/05/2026 8:58 a.m. CST
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